Embedding Rational Expectations in a Structural VAR: Internal and External Instruments for Set Identification

Embedding Rational Expectations in a Structural VAR: Internal and External Instruments for Set Identification

Abstract

We propose a novel approach that embeds Rational Expectations (RE) into a low-dimensional structural vector autoregression (SVAR). We establish an instrumental variable procedure internal to the SVAR founded on a purely theoretical framework, which does not rely on any mapping strategy to a reduced form. Alternatively, a separate strategy considers data external to the SVAR to aid in the identification of structural shocks on a purely empirical basis. We report extit{clouds} of responses from an RE-consistent theoretical model as well as regions of plausible responses from the empirical approach. We conclude that a Taylor Rule characterization of monetary policy shocks remains relevant when the theoretical RE-SVAR is properly augmented with information from fluctuations extemdash or momentous events extemdash in markets that garnered increased attention since 2008, such as reserves and various money markets.

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Zhengyang (Robin) Chen
Assistant Professor in Economics

My research interests include Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics, Time Series Analysis and Financial Economics.